Croatian authorities said the group was discovered near the village of Donje Prilisce, about 70 kilometers southwest of the capital Zagreb. Thirteen additional migrants were taken into custody and transferred to a detention facility.

Police said the individuals were allegedly transported by truck and abandoned near the border by a suspected smuggler who fled the scene. The cause of death was not immediately confirmed, and an investigation is ongoing.

Croatia, a member of the European Union, is a key transit point along the Balkan migration route used by people attempting to reach Western Europe.According to the Frontex, more than 12,500 migrants used the route in 2025.

The International Organization for Migration has reported that over 400 people have died or gone missing along this corridor since 2014.Recent incidents highlight the risks faced by migrants on the route.

Earlier this year, a migrant died after a boat capsized while crossing from Bosnia into Croatia, while last month authorities rescued 30 people stranded in a marsh near the same border.

Around 1,000 officers searched more than 50 residential and commercial properties in and around Leipzig, according to federal police based in Halle an der Saale. The operation focused on a network believed to have sent legitimate residency documents issued in Germany to individuals in Syria with similar physical appearances.

Authorities said most of those targeted were suspected of allowing their documents to be used in the scheme, while a smaller number were accused of facilitating unauthorized entry into Germany.Police seized evidence including mobile phones, residency permits, flight booking records and at least 93,000 euros ($109,000) in cash during the operation.

Investigators also reported uncovering potential violations of narcotics and explosives laws, along with indications of links to organized crime.A total of 44 suspects were subjected to formal identification procedures, police said.

The investigation was supported by “document and visa advisers” deployed by German authorities at airports in the Middle East, where suspected cases of fraud were initially detected.

Since 2024, 71 such advisers have been stationed outside the European Union to assist visa processing at German embassies and to work with airlines at major international hubs.